Automatic labeling and/or package sealing machine



Jan. 1, 1935. l' Wl A Vl THOMSEN` 1,986,611

AUTOMA'fC LABELING AND/OR PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1955 INVEN-roR l/ 72/0Mf/w Y, Patented Jan. 1,1935 .c

UNITEDrSTATs PATENT oFFicE This invention relates to improvements in automatic labellingand/or package vsealing `machines.` c i L L c i One of the important features of `the invention resides in la machine for `automatically cutting orfpunching labels or i seals `from a strip of material,` and directly applying the sameto a package to be labeled or sealed. c(

VAnother object of theinvention 'is to provide a machine in which a strip'of flexible material isintermittentlymoved past a cutting die, whichdie during each stoppingof the strip operates to successively out a seal ;or label therefrom and apply the same to a Wrapper orpackage intended to receivethe same.Y y A further object of the invention "is the `provision of a reciprocable unit which operates to successively grip a strip from which `a seal or label is tobe cut to hold the same tautfcut the seal or label fromv the strip whileheld taut; and eject the` cut seal or label `from,;the machine.

A Sli fuftheflobie'cr of the inventan is. a provide an automatic machine having the above lfeatures ,which` is simpleof construction,y and rapidand positive in operation; i c i With these' and" other objects in'view, the invention resides inthe certain novel construetion, combination and arrangement of parts, `the essentialfeatures of which are hereinafter fully set forth `in the specication'jfare* particularly i pointed out inthe appendedclaims,candare illustrated in the accompanying gdrawir'ig,` in

which: i.

Figure lis a invention. i i i l c Figure 2 is a top plan View.` f

Figure 3 is an enlarged `detail vertical secr.

tional view on the line 3- 3 V"ofFigure 2.V

Figure 4 isadeta'il perspectivevievvfof the1V of" the discs `Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of apor`` tion of i the strip` of material` from `which the discs or labels are cut.

` Figure 8 is af detail perspective vie'tvillustrat` said head. The front side ofthe ,ring carries la ing a modified formof strip feed..V i i Referring to the drawing byreference char- "acters, the numerallO designates a' supporting side elevational `view fof a labeling machinefconstructed inaccordance with 'my 'cross plate 12 having a roundwindow opening 13 therein.-` Journaled in bearings 14-14'and' disposed in alignment with the axis of the opening 13 is a cutter" die member l5 which includes `a hollow cylindrical cutting head 16 which is 5 open at one end,` and which end faces toward the plate 12. Thev head is of a diameterrto freely passinto the opening 13 and the peripheral edge at the open side is beveled internally as at 17 to provide a sharp pointed cutting edge, and l0 which cutting edge is preferably scalloped or of saw tooth conguration as at 18 to provide a sharp out when in operation. The head 16 inwardly of the cutting edge is provided with an annular flange 19. Extending rearwardlyfrom l5 `the head 16 is a tubular shaft `or sleeve 20 which slides in thecbearings 14 and provided on 'the tubular shaft and disposed intermediate the bearings 14-14 is an annular flange 21. Exe pansion springs `22 are interposed between the flange 21 and the rear bearing 14 which tends to normally urge the cutter unit in a forwardly cutting position. i :l

Slidable- Within the? tubular shaft 20 isV a plunger rod 23 and carried by the lfrontend thereof "is a plunger head 2li-which isv normally housed within'the hollow cylindrical cutter head 16. The rear `end `of the plunger rod extends beyond the tubular shaft 2,8 `and has one end of a link"`25 pivoted thereto, `while the other end of `the link Ais pivotally connected to an army 26 xedito theshaft vZ'lis ayforwardly extending 'arm 28, the free end of whichis pivotally connected tofthe upper `end ofa pitman 29. lThe lower en'd of the pitman is provided with aflat head 3U having an opening therein to loosely fit about a driven powershaft 3l. The head fits against cnefsideof a cam wheel 32 `having a cam` grooveBS' therein for the reception of a pin 34 extending laterally from the head 30. The cam is so'shaped that on each revolution thereof, the plungerv rod 23 is -given a `.single reciprocation, through `the ptman 29,."arm 28, shaft27; 'arm 26`andli`nk25. y y Freely encircling the cylindrical head 16 is a flat clamping `ring 35 yieldingly supported by springs'36 xedly connected to flange 19 of the rubber `cushion ring 3'7 `which is` normally held just beyond the plane of the cuttingfedge of the cutter` head 16 and in a position in spaced rela- Journaled respectively above and below the cutter head and in vertical alignment are rollers 38 and 39 having gears 4G and 41 respectively on one of the ends thereof meshing with an intermittently rotated driving gear 42 fixed to a'shaft 43 Liournaled in the plates 11. Although both rollers 38 and 39 are rotatably driven, only the lower roller 39 constitutes a feed roller .for `feeding a strip` past the window opening/13 vas. willbe explained hereinafter.

Coacting with the feed roller 39 is an idler roller 44 freely mounted on an eccentric 44 which in turn is ixedly secured to a horizontal shaft 45 journaled in the..plates 11, the :outer periphery of the idler roller having a rubber friction ring 46 thereon. One end-of the shaft 45 has a lever 47 fixedly mounted thereon while a contractile spring 48 has oneend Vfixed thereto and its other end to the adjacent ksideplate 11. The tension of the spring serves to turn the shaft vand resiliently hold the idler roller 44 against the feed roller 39. Manual actuation of the le-ve`r'47 against theaction-of the spring will of -course yturn the shaft and eccentric 44 and move the idler roller away from-*the feed roller 39 to kenable the threading of the eXible strip of l`stoel: 4 9 therebetween.

The stripof stock 49 is preferably stiff nei:-

I ibleblank or printed paper and is unwound vco Vadhesive transfer or dauber roller 60.

Awith the. gear 40.

fromY a roll 50 removably supported upon a spindie 5.1 `cairiedby an opstanding bracket arm 52 secured. tov or formed integral with one of the side-,plates il. The strip 49 after `leaving the' rollpassesbeneath a pair of spaced horizontally alined guide rollers 53 journaled in the side plates adjacent the top thereof. The strip after passing beneath the rollers 53, passes over the roller 38 and thence downwardly between the plate 12 and cutting die, after whichit passes betweenthe feed roller 39 and eccentric roller 45.

.""Supported upon a platform 54 extending between ytheside plates 11, is an adhesive -pot 55 and vjournaled `in bearings at opposite ends of thesaid adhesive pot is a driven rotatable aclhesive pick up roller 56. A scraper blade 57 is mounted Yupon the adhesive pot for scrapingexcess adhesive `picked up by the ioller'during its rotation. One-end of the pick up roller is provided with argear 58 which is in constant mesh with a gear 59 xedly secured to oneend of an The roller 6@ is'journaledin the side plates 11, and the gear. 59 .thereof obtainsits power bymeshing The transfer roller isf-provided with oppositelydisposed yieldable dauber disksl preferably constructed rof sponge rub.-

ber. Ther dauber Ydisks kpick up adhesivebyr al-v ternate contact with the pick' up kroller 56 and apply r'ound'areas of adhesive along the kstrip y49 prior to the passage of the strip v'past the windowopening 13. u y. Inforder to intermittently feed the strip 49 past the window opening 13 I employ a Geneva movement; which obtains its power from the drive or power shaft 31. The Geneva mechanismA comprises a Geneva wheel 62 iixedly cary ried by theshaft 43 Iand disposed outside `of the.` gear 42'. The Geneva wheel is formed with the radiallydisposed slots. 63 opening onto vthe outer edge thereof vand successively receivable in the slots is a-roller64 carried by an arm 65 fixed toa rotatable ,shaft 66, vwhere vupon each revolution-of the shaft, theroller inipartsfa predetermined rotary movement to the Geneva wheel 62 vjacent side plate l1.

Vthe power drive shaft, and it in turn transmits an intermittent movement to the strip feeding rollers, .adhesive :pick up roller and adhesive transfer or dauber roller, and which operates in timed Vaccord with the cutting and punching mechanism.

In operation, assume that it is desired to punch labels or seals such as shown in Figure 5 by the numeral from the strip 49. The tape is threaded into the machine in the manner described-and shown in Figure 3, the cutting die and punch being in a retracted position. As the strip is intermittently fed from the roller, it first receives equidistantly shaped dabs of adhesive 71 by contact of the dauber pads 61 with the upper side of the strip, the roller 38 acting as a bearing roller during lthe application of the adhesive to the-strip. After passing over the roller 38, the adhesive side of the strip is presented to the front of the machine and the adhesive area being smaller than the opening 13, the same is brought into axial alignment therewith without contacting with the rear side of the front plate 12 within the path of the cutter member y15. When the adhesive area is in alignment with the window opening the feed mechanism is at a stand still, and at this time, the cam whee132 .operates the pit-man 29 to cause a forward movement tobe imparted to the plunger 23. The springs 22 acting upon the cutter member 15, will cause the forward advance of the said member,the cutting edge` 17 of which is inadvance of the plunger until such time as. the cutter has performed its cutting function. The forward movement of the cutter member-.causes the cushioned clamping ring 35 topi-ess the adjacent portion of the strip against the rear .of the front plate 12, thus holding that Window-openingin a taut condition. As the cutter member continuesto move forward, the teeth 18 pass through Ithe strip and cut vthe disk fseal or label 7-, and which cutting operation is Iimmediatelyifollowed .by the continued forward movementpf the plunger head 24. Afternthe cutter member has been moved by thesprings 32 to the limit of itscuttingmovement, the energy ofnthexl springs `is spent and the 4plunger head moves forward relative vto the cutter member; andejects the label or seal 70 through the opening 13. After a cutting and ejecting operation, thecam wheel;and`-its co-.related parts returns the plunger member -toa Aretracted position,v and the plungerr in turn-retracts the cutter member against the action off-the spring 22. When fthecutter memberand plunger are clear of the path of the strip, theGenei/arnovement againfunctions vto feed anotherV adhesivecoated naaste-1i theainward folding of one of .thea'endspxand :by `presenting these folded .-'endsi tto the `attindow ropening 13, `the label; 70 can `be .directly l applied thereto, to secure the folded portions .and fseal` Vthe bagbottom; In vFigure .3,1I. -:haver :illustrated this feature `wherein '72 designatesga; portion of abag formed upo-n a mandrel 73;,one` of the ends ofthe bag ybeing folded inwardly asat vrletto fclose thesame. Thus by presentingfthis*folded end to the window opening `13, `the 1 plunger 24 during its forward `extended .movement will lpress thelabel with the adhesive side against thefolds '74 of the bag.`

It `may be desirable when .punching .printed labels from a strip to have `a. morepositive ',feedv than ,the friction feed produced by the lrollers 39 and 45. InFigure 8 of .the drawinglI have illustrated arroller 75 which mayzbe substituted forthe `roller 39, the same having radiallyfextending` teeth '76 adjacent opposite `endsfthereoi The 'labelstrip 77 islprovided with rows cnf-spaced slots 78 parallel to and adjacent the longitudinaledges thereof, the teeth passingthrough` the Yslots andserving to exert `a positive pullupon 1;* `,thestrip without possible,slippage.` `'Ihisgwill p assure absolute registrationof each printedlarea with the window openingl. ,Y

.Although Ifhave shown a cutting die .for cutting -round or.` circular `seals `or labels, other shapes may be cut by changing the shape of the die. l While,` I have shown, and described what I `deem to bethe` preferred embodimentsfof my invention, Irwish `it to be` understood-thatfsuch [lg-*i vchanges as come within the scope of theappended claims may be resorted to yif desired." l

Having thus l described,` the invention, what `I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Bat- 1 ent of Athe United States, istter and operable ,with respectthereto for ejectingthe cut portions of said striprtherefrom. l

2. In a machine of the class described, a

Vreciprocable cutter member, means for moving reciprocating said cutter-member while said stripA is stationary.

3; In a machine of the class described, a fixed plate having an opening therein, means for supporting a flexiblestrip, means for intermittently feeding saidvstrip past` said opening, re` lea-sable means for clamping` said strip against' said plate to hold-the sameV taut across said opening upon eachstoppingof the strip during its intermittent movement, areciprocable cutter member in alignment with said opening, and means for reciprocating saidcutter `member during each stopping of said `strip to cut that portion of said strip in registration with said. opening.

4. In a machine of the class described, a

fixed plate having an opening therein, means for supporting a flexible strip, means for inter mittently feeding said" strip past said opening,

releasablemeans 'forclamping said stripnagainst sadliplate torholdrfthe .sametgtautliaoross said cpeningxmpon-f-each :stopping of the 'fstripirduring r its .intermittent :moi/ement, ya reciprocable cuttertmember iniialignment zwithtsaidtopening, .li

means diorreciprocatingi said cutterimember-:during each .stopping .ofzsaid` stripA .to cut that por` tion of said :strip in registration with csa-id .opening, sandfpunch fmeans I extending beyond 1 the Vcutter` member. whenat the limitfof its cutting movementf'zfor rejecting the cut lportionscofsaid strip 'through .said opening.

i In .ra machine :of .the class idescribedparxed platehaving an opening therein, meansifortintermittently fmovingf.a:.flexib1e :strip .past .'.said

f opening, fa `hollow* cutter .member slidably .mounted in alignment fwith .said opening :and movable thereinto, a `:slidable .ejector tmemberf'fhoused within said hcllowfcutter 4member but.:movable therebeyondyland means for.V reciprocating said cutter rmember :and fejector member .to :successivelyxcutv 'that '.portion` of 1 said `strip iin; register with s said ,openingfand eject the f cut portion therethrough. l

`(5.,In a machine ofthe class rdescribed, affixed plate' having anlopening therein, a reciprocable `cuttertmember in alignmentlwith said-opening,

means L for .supporting .la 'flexible strip,-=intermit tent means for feeding said strip between `said xed. plate `and l said .cutter `member, dyieldable clamping-fm'eans carried .by., said 1 cutter f member inladvance lolftthe cuttingedge thereof to .clamp l .saidstripagainst saidplate .to holdthel-same taut Lacrosssaid :opening `and l'means. `for reciprocating '.saidcutter member. A f 7.12m amaohine of fitheclassidescribem a `slidable uplunger l rodf a :head `on .one `end ofsaid plunger i rod, `ar tubular 'shaft slidably f mounted onssaid..plunger.rodpa .recessed` cutter-head on ing said plunger rodl and head, said head moving beyond the plane of the cutting edge of said be cut and punched in the path of forward movementof said cutter member and plunger head.

8. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a, flexible strip having equidistantly spaced adhesive coated areas on one side thereof, a hollow reciprocable cutter member, means for intermittently feeding said strip in the path of reciprocable movement of said cutter member to successively move the adhesive coated areas inaxial alinement therewith, the cutter member being of a size to cut beyond the coated areas," a reciprocable punch member normally housed within said hollow cutter member, means for reciprocating. said punch member to extend the same beyond said cutter member when said `cutter member is at the limit of its cutting movement, and spring means for sliding the cutter member has reached the limit 'ofA its movement in afcutting direction, and means for intermittently feeding the flexible strip in the path of said cutter member in timed relation to the reciprocating movement thereof. c 10. In a machine yof the class' described, Ya Xed plate having an opening therein, means for supporting aflexible strip, means for intermittently moving saidstrip past said opening adjacent one side of said plate, a reciprocable cutter member in alinement with said opening, a clampingmember yieldably supported by said cutter member and normally disposed on a plane in advance of the cutting-edge of said cutter member, and meansfor reciprocating said cutter member during each stoppingofisaid strip .to cause said clamping member to move toward said plate in one direction of its movement and coact therewith to hold said strip taut across said opening and to successively cause said cutter member to cut through said strip, and to return said cutter member and release-said strip upon movement of the cutter member in an ropposite direction. Y

f11. Inra machine of the aclass described, a fixed plate having an openingtherein, means for supporting a flexible strip, means for intermittently y moving said strip past said opening adjacent one side of said plate, a reciprocable cutter member in alinement with said opening, a clamping member yieldably supported by said cutter member and normally disposed on a plane in advance ofthe cutting edge of said cutter member, Aand means for reciprocating said'cutter member during each stoppingk of said strip to cause said clamping member to move toward said plate in vonel direction of its movement and coact therewith to hold said strip tautacross said opening and to successively cause said cutter member to cut through'said strip, and to return said cutter member and release said strip upon movement of the cutter member in an opposite direction, and punch means operablefor ejecting the cut portion of said stripgthrough' said opening upon the completion of the movement ofsaid cutter member ina cutting direction.

y 12. In a machine of the class. described, a reciprocable cutter member having a recess therein,-a reciprocable punch member normally housed within the `recess of said recessed cutter member, means for simultaneously reciprocating said cutter member and said punch member, and meansfor extending said punch member beyond saidcutter member when said cutter member reaches the limit of its movement in a cutting direction.

13.` A machine of the class described including a framehaving a vertical plate provided with an opening, feed rollers journaled in said frame above and below said opening and adapted to feed a strip to be perforated vertically adjacent one side of said plate andv past said opening, means for intermittently rotating said feed rollers in the same direction of rotation, a reciprocable cutter member in alinement with said opening, a clampingl element resiliently mounted vber between the intermittent operations of said feed rollers.

v WILLIAM A. V. THOMSEN. 

